12 oblíbených typů materiálu na kukly

What is a balaclava?

Kukla is a fabric hood that covers the head, ears, face and neck, usually leaving only the eyes, or eyes + mouth/nose exposed. Some styles can also be pulled down completely and used as a hat. Also known as a balaclava, a balaclava, a ski mask, a full-face hood, or a military mask.

12 oblíbených typů materiálu na kukly

1. Wool balaclava

Wool fabric is a natural fiber spun from animal hair (such as sheep, goats, etc.) and is a traditional material widely used in autumn and winter clothing. It has excellent warmth retention, elasticity and moisture absorption properties, and is an important fabric for making winter balaclavas, scarves, hats, and coats. Common types of wool: Merino wool is the finest and softest, suitable for close-to-skin wear, ordinary wool: slightly coarse in texture, often used for outer clothing, llama wool, cashmere: more advanced, soft and expensive

Advantages: The hollow structure of wool fibers can lock in air and form a good insulation layer, which is very suitable for wearing in cold weather. It can absorb more than 30% of its own weight in water without feeling damp, keeping the skin dry and comfortable. It has antibacterial properties and is not easy to breed bacteria.

Disadvantages: Ordinary wool may cause itching on sensitive skin, especially if it has not been finely treated. High-temperature washing or drying can easily cause shrinkage and deformation, so it needs to be hand washed or professionally dry cleaned.

2. Polyester fabric balaclava

 Polyester, also known as “polyester fiber”, is a polymer material synthesized from petroleum extracts and is one of the most widely used synthetic fibers in the world. It has excellent wear resistance, wrinkle resistance and cost advantages.

Advantages: light weight, suitable for long-term wear; strong wear resistance and long service life. Not easy to wrinkle, keep the appearance neat, suitable for daily commuting or travel.

Disadvantages: Almost no water absorption, sweat is not easily absorbed, which may cause facial discomfort. It is easy to generate static electricity in a dry environment, and absorb dust or hair.

3. Nylon fabric balaclava

 Nylon is the world’s first synthetic fiber, invented by DuPont in 1935. It is a polyamide fiber with excellent wear resistance, elasticity and strength.

Advantages: Very resistant to wear and tear, suitable for high-intensity outdoor activities or frequent use. Machine washable, not easy to wrinkle, easy to maintain.

Disadvantages: Almost no sweat absorption, sweat easily stays on the skin surface, affecting comfort. Prone to static electricity in dry environment, attracting dust or hair.

4. Spandex balaclava

 Spandex (Spandex / Lycra / Elastane) is a synthetic fiber with extremely high elasticity and is widely used in clothing that requires fit and stretch properties.

Advantages: It can be stretched to more than 500% of its original length, perfectly fits various face shapes and head sizes, has good resilience, is not easy to deform after repeated stretching, and has a long service life. High elasticity can adapt to violent movements, is not easy to slip or deform, and is very suitable for cycling, running, skiing and other sports.

Disadvantages: Spandex alone does not have good thermal insulation performance and needs to be blended with other thermal insulation materials. People who are sensitive to chemical fibers may experience slight skin discomfort. It hardly absorbs sweat, and sweat is easily retained on the skin surface, so it needs to be combined with moisture absorption and sweat removal technology.

5. Fleece balaclava

 Fleece is a kind of artificial plush fabric made of polyester fiber (polyester), named because its surface is covered with fine granular fluff. It feels soft, light and warm.

Advantages: The fleece on the surface can lock in air and form an insulation layer, which can keep the face warm even in low temperature environments. It has low water absorption and can dry quickly after sweating or getting wet, making it suitable for sports and outdoor activities. The cost is moderate, and the cost performance is better than natural materials such as wool. 

Disadvantages: Pure polar fleece does not have a windproof function and needs to be used in combination with windproof fabrics. It has a high density and may feel stuffy when worn for a long time, especially indoors or during high-intensity exercise. It is easy to generate static electricity in a dry environment and absorb hair or dust.

6. Silk balaclava

 Soft and comfortable, no static electricity and friction, can reduce hair damage. Silk headbands are usually more expensive, and may have no elasticity and poor fit. They can only be worn when not exercising or resting at night.

7. Ice silk balaclava

“Ice silk” usually refers to fabrics made mainly of polyester or nylon, which have been specially processed (such as cool coating, hollow structure, moisture absorption and perspiration treatment, etc.) to simulate the silk-like touch and “cool” physical effect. 

The most significant advantage is that it feels “cool” when in contact with the skin, which is suitable for wearing in summer and can effectively reduce the feeling of stuffiness.  

Disadvantages: The fabric is thin, and the protection against wind, sand and sunlight is limited (unless thickened or coated). It is completely unsuitable for low temperature environments and cannot be used in winter or cold weather.

8. Birdseye balaclava

Birdseye Fabric is a fabric with a special knitted structure, usually a blend of polyester, nylon or spandex, with uniform small holes or concave and convex dot textures formed through a specific weaving process.

Advantages: The small hole structure on the surface enhances air circulation, and it is not stuffy when worn, which is suitable for use in spring and summer or during exercise. It can quickly discharge sweat from the body surface and evaporate it, keeping the face dry and comfortable.

Disadvantages: Although the small hole structure is breathable, it also means that the windproof ability is weak. The material is thin and does not have good thermal insulation performance, so it is not suitable for use alone in cold weather.

9.Brushed cloth balaclava

Nailed fabric refers to a layer of fine and fluffy nap formed by mechanically pulling fibers out of the surface of ordinary knitted or woven fabrics. This treatment makes the fabric softer, warmer, more absorbent, and feels similar to flannel or velvet. Common types of napped fabrics include cotton napped fabric, polyester napped fabric, and blended napped fabric.

Advantages: The surface has fine fluff, which is suitable for people with sensitive skin. The fluff layer can lock air and form a heat preservation layer, which is suitable for use in low-temperature environments in autumn and winter.

Disadvantages: The fluff structure is easy to fall off or pill due to friction, especially low-quality fabrics. It is easy to shrink and deform due to high cleaning requirements. It is recommended to hand wash in cold water or wash gently in a machine. It will feel stuffy when worn when it is too hot, and it is not suitable for spring and summer or high-intensity sports scenes

10. Acrylic fabric balaclava

Acrylic, also known as “artificial wool”, is a synthetic fiber with acrylonitrile as the main raw material. It is made into fibers through polymerization reaction, has good elasticity and fluffiness, feels soft, and is suitable for imitating wool fabrics.

Advantages: The fiber is fluffy and porous, can lock air to form an insulation layer, and has a warmth-keeping performance close to wool. It has good resilience, can return to its original shape after stretching, and is not easy to relax after long-term use. Compared with wool or cashmere, it is a cost-effective alternative material.

Disadvantages: It is not as sweat-absorbent as natural fibers, and it is easy to feel stuffy and airtight after sweating. It is easy to generate static electricity in a dry environment, and absorb dust or clothing fibers.

11. Balaclava, milk silk fabric

Milk silk, also known as milk fiber, is scientifically called casein fiber, a regenerated protein fiber. It is a textile material made from protein (mainly casein) in milk through extraction, chemical treatment and spinning. Although the name sounds like a fiber made directly from natural milk, it is actually a semi-synthetic fiber that combines protein with synthetic materials through modern chemical technology.

Advantages: As delicate as silk, comfortable to wear, non-irritating to the skin, suitable for people with sensitive skin. It absorbs sweat better than polyester and other chemical fibers, keeps the face dry and reduces the feeling of stuffiness.

Disadvantages: The fabric is thin and not suitable for use alone in cold weather. It has poor elasticity when used alone, and most products add spandex to improve elasticity and fit.

12. Bamboo fiber balaclava

 Bamboo fabric is a regenerated plant fiber extracted from natural bamboo. It has the characteristics of natural antibacterial, moisture absorption,breathability, softness and comfort. Although it is a man-made fiber

Advantages: Bamboo fiber contains “bamboo quinone” ingredients, which can effectively inhibit bacterial growth and reduce odor. The material is light and thin, and there is no sense of oppression when wearing it. It is suitable for long-term use. Bamboo fiber naturally has a certain UV protection function and is suitable for outdoor wear.

Disadvantages: It is not as good as wool, polar fleece and other warm fabrics. It is not suitable for use alone in extremely cold environments. It has poor elasticity when used alone. Most products will add spandex to improve elasticity and fit. It is easy to deform and shrink after washing.